<p>Hey everyone! I was just wondering how the Blue & Gold Plan worked for the UC system. I recently received my financial aid information for the two schools I'm considering attending. However, I'm not sure if the Blue and Gold is already included in the aid award. If someone can please clarify this for me, I'd greatly appreciate it! </p>
<p>Thank you :)</p>
<p>If you already receive pell grant and Cal grant, the Blue & Gold plan is already added to your financial aid package :)!</p>
<p>We have discovered that they don’t actually say Blue and Gold on the award. It is typically stated as a UC grant or something like that. Blue and Gold only covers what you aren’t already getting in other grants, federal or otherwise.</p>
<p>To clarify: the name of the amount that covers any shortfall seems to vary. Some do report a grant amount that says “Blue and Gold.” For me, it was called “UC Fee Grant.”</p>
<p>OP:
Blue&Gold promises systemwide fees will be met through a combination of grants and/or scholarships. It allows any grants and scholarships you receive to be used for this purpose. If there is a shortfall, then it will kick in some money.</p>
<p>Because Cal Grant is already earmarked for systemwide fees, Blue&Gold is automatically met. So even if nothing says it’s been applied, it actually has because of the nature of Blue&Gold.</p>
<p>If you qualify for Blue & Gold, but the grants listed on your preliminary award are less than the amount of system-wide fees (Aprox. 11k) don’t worry. Later, Blue & Gold will step in to cover the difference up to the amount of system wide fees.</p>
<p>Example: Preliminary award letter
Grant $3,500
Subsidized loans $5,000
Unsubsidized loans $500</p>
<p>Well if you qualify for Blue & Gold then later the Financial Aid office will do the following…
System-wide fees $11,000
Minus the Grant of $3,500
Blue & Gold will cover the difference of $7,500</p>
<p>PS: Not all UC’s will reflect the data the same in their provisional award letters. Some will show a grant of at least $11,000, and others will show a grant of less than $11,000, but off to the side they’re mention that you qualify for Blue & Gold. Please keep this in mind when comparing FA award letters.</p>
<p>I just got my official financial aid package today and I’m told I’m eligible for Blue and Gold, but I don’t see anything with names like that on my package (I only got around $200 in grants then some loan offers). Do you know how long it takes for the grant to show up? (Paranoid)</p>
<p>^^^^</p>
<p>Who told you that you’re eligible for Blue and Gold? </p>
<p>Are you a Calif resident? did you go to a Calif high school?</p>
<p>Does your family earn under $80k per year?</p>
<p>Are you a transfer student?</p>
<p>I spoke to a counselor…it turns out that at least for UC Berkeley students Blue and Gold doesn’t pay for anything until October. Question though, if a parent manages to find a job that puts you above $80000 after you filed FAFSA and find out you’re eligible for Blue and Gold, do you lose Blue and Gold? (My parents are both looking for jobs)</p>